The show centers around Sutherland's character Tom Kirkman, a low-level member the U.S. Cabinet who's made president following an attack that wiped out the rest of the political leaders during the State of the Union address.

Penn in Harold and Kumar

According to TVLine, Nikita actress Maggie Q will star as the show's lead FBI agent who's investigating the bombing that struck Washington D.C. Meanwhile, Penn will play Kirkman's speech writer, Ricci's character will serve as his chief of staff and McElhone will play his wife.

Maggie Q in Nikita

Designated Survivor received a straight-to-series order back in December. Safe House screenwriter David Guggenheim wrote the script and will executive produce with Simon Kinberg and Mark Gordon.

Last month, FOX announced plans to keep the 24 series alive with a new, Jack Bauer-less show called 24: Legacy. While Sutherland won't be reprising his lead role as the terrorist-twarting action hero, it looks like he's found a new home as Tom Kirkman on ABC.

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and subscribe to him on YouTube.